Recently active Massachusetts legislation

Items whose status the government most recently moved, in any direction.

Questions you vote on

9 items

2026 Question 9 · You vote Tuesday, November 3

Should Massachusetts keep its 2024 firearms law?
- Yes would keep the 2024 firearms law.
- No would repeal the 2024 firearms law.
2026 Question 8 · You vote Tuesday, November 3

Should Massachusetts end legal retail sales of recreational marijuana?
- Yes would end legal, state-regulated retail sales of recreational marijuana. Medical marijuana would remain legal.
- No would keep the current legal, state-regulated retail market for recreational marijuana.
2026 Question 7 · You vote Tuesday, November 3

Should qualifying small residential lots be allowed to have single-family homes?
- Yes would allow single-family homes on qualifying residential lots while retaining specified local regulatory powers.
- No would leave the rules governing these lots unchanged by this proposal.
2026 Question 6 · You vote Tuesday, November 3

Should certain sales tax revenue fund nature conservation and outdoor access?
- Yes would create the Nature for All Fund and dedicate specified tax revenue to it, subject to legislative appropriation.
- No would leave funding rules unchanged and would not create this fund.
2026 Question 5 · You vote Tuesday, November 3

Should the state’s tax collection limit be based on last year’s actual revenue?
- Yes would base the limit on the previous year’s actual tax revenue and count the income surtax in both the limit and the refund calculation.
- No would keep the current formula, which builds on the previous year’s limit and leaves the surtax out.
2026 Question 4 · You vote Tuesday, November 3

Should eligible voters be allowed to register on Election Day?
- Yes would let eligible residents register or update their address at their polling place on Election Day, though it would not let anyone switch parties that day.
- No would keep the current rule that you must register at least 10 days before an election.
2026 Question 3 · You vote Tuesday, November 3

Should state primaries put all candidates on one ballot?
- Yes would create one state primary open to all candidates and voters, with the top two finishers advancing to the general election starting in 2028.
- No would keep separate party primaries, where each voter takes only one party’s ballot.
2026 Question 2 · You vote Tuesday, November 3

Should state public defender employees be allowed to form a union?
- Yes would let the committee’s employees unionize and bargain, and would require the committee to request funding for any agreement, though the funding is not guaranteed.
- No would keep the committee off the list of public employers required to bargain with a union.
2026 Question 1 · You vote Tuesday, November 3

Should public records rules cover the legislature and governor’s office?
- Yes would extend public records law to most records of the legislature and governor’s office, with specified exceptions.
- No would leave public records law unchanged by this proposal.

In committee

Step 2 of 5 · 7 items

Next: The committee decides whether to report it out or send the subject to study.

H.5664 · Proposed state law · Filed August 4, 2026

Authorize release of use restrictions for Malden property

This bill would authorize the Commissioner of Capital Asset Management and Maintenance to release or amend certain use restrictions on land at 89 Summer Street in Malden, formerly the Malden District Court site.

updated August 31, 2026
H.5642 · Proposed state law · Filed August 4, 2026

Increase disability retirement for West Springfield officer

The bill H5642 would increase the accidental disability retirement for Michael D.

Public hearing September 9, 2026
H.5659 · Proposed state law · Filed August 20, 2026

Authorize Rutland to grant one more off-premises alcohol license

This bill would let the town of Rutland grant an additional license for the sale of all alcoholic beverages to be drunk off the premises to Varahi Foods Inc.

updated August 24, 2026
H.5660 · Proposed state law · Filed August 20, 2026

Authorize Belmont to hold hybrid town meetings

The bill would let Belmont hold in-person, fully remote, or hybrid town meetings.

updated August 24, 2026
H.5661 · Proposed state law · Filed August 20, 2026

Authorize Belmont to raise senior tax abatements limits

The bill would allow Belmont to increase asset, income, and benefit limits for seniors applying for property tax abatements, by more than the cost of living in any year.

updated August 24, 2026
H.5656 · Proposed state law · Filed August 13, 2026

Authorize an additional liquor license for Avon

The Massachusetts House bill would allow Avon to grant an additional license for the sale of all alcoholic beverages not to be drunk on premises, for On Avon Corporation at 85 East Main Street.

updated August 17, 2026
H.5652 · Proposed state law · Filed August 10, 2026

Authorize Athol five off-premises wine licenses

The bill would allow the Town of Athol to grant five additional licenses for the sale of wine and malt beverages to be consumed off the premises, updating licensing under Chapter 138.

updated August 13, 2026

Reported out of committee

Step 3 of 5 · 2 items

Next: Both chambers have to pass it in the same words.

H.5657 · Proposed state law · Filed August 10, 2026

Establish sick leave bank for Patrick Nelligan

The bill would require the Massachusetts Department of Correction to establish a sick leave bank for Patrick Nelligan, a staff member.

updated August 31, 2026
H.5662 · Proposed state law · Filed August 24, 2026

Authorize 25-year lease of Pilgrim Memorial Park to Plymouth

The bill would let the commissioner of capital asset management and maintenance, with the conservation and recreation commissioners, enter into a 25-year lease of the Pilgrim Memorial State Park land in Plymouth.

updated August 24, 2026

Its text became an amendment to another bill

1 item

H.5665 · Change to a bill · Filed September 3, 2026

Adopt Brockton Residency Standards for City Offices

This resident-facing piece describes an amendment to Senate Bill 2957 that would require residency in the relevant ward or Brockton city limits for Brockton officeholders.

updated September 3, 2026

Moved to a rules committee

5 items

H.5663 · Directive to the legislature itself · Introduced August 24, 2026

Study of consumer connected devices investigation authorized

The House ordered the Consumer Protection and Professional Licensure committee to investigate House document 5114 about consumer connected devices.

updated August 24, 2026
H.5649 · Directive to the legislature itself · Introduced August 13, 2026

Study Order to Examine Armed Forces Compensation

This House matter is an Order to authorize the Veterans and Federal Affairs committee to investigate and study a House document related to death and disability compensation for armed forces members.

updated August 13, 2026
H.5647 · Directive to the legislature itself · Introduced August 13, 2026

Study Housing Documents During Recess by Housing Committee

The matter orders the Housing Committee to study four House documents (2328, 4163, 4410, 4411) related to housing matters during a recess.

updated August 13, 2026
H.5648 · Directive to the legislature itself · Introduced August 13, 2026

Authorize Public Service to study Leicester document

This matter is an order authorizing the Committee on Public Service to sit during a recess and investigate House document 5420 regarding the town of Leicester.

updated August 13, 2026
H.5651 · Directive to the legislature itself · Introduced August 13, 2026

Discharge to Study Veterans’ Disability Benefits Document

This House order authorizes the committee on Veterans and Federal Affairs to investigate and study a House document related to veteran disability benefits.

updated August 13, 2026

Redrafted as an amendment

1 item

H.5658 · Introduced August 20, 2026

Vote to approve Great River Regional School District

House Bill H5658, introduced August 20, 2026 by Thomas P.

Redrafted as an amendment

Updated August 20, 2026